Osun festival, a celebration of water and fertility goddess (exclusive photos)
“I was asked to relocate from Lagos to Osogbo so that my life can have a meaning. I beg you, goddess of Osun, I must not come back here in vain,” these were the words of a desperate woman inside the sacred Osun grove where the annual Osun/Osogbo festival berths yearly.
Apart from the fertility which the Osun goddess is sure to guarantee barren women, it is believed that anything one asks from the river will be granted as long as the requests are backed up with promises (which MUST be fulfilled).
The Arugba’s appearance is always met with a lot of celebration and prayers. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi.
During the 2016 edition of the festival, the crowd pouring into the grove, according to locals, was unprecedented as the people kept thronging the shrine to make their demands from the goddess. And although there was a heavy downpour on Thursday preceding the grand finale, the people remain unperturbed.
Foreign newsmen, tourists and expatriates were also at the scene, but unlike the locals, they were only at the site to enjoy the beauty of African tradition firsthand.
The goddess of water sure has many devotees who were not ashamed to show their loyalty. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi.
NAIJ.com spoke with a few attendees, especially those who are not domiciled in the state and they had nothing but great words for the goddess and the priests for ensuring the consistent organisation of proceedings.
“This is one festival that I have never missed and do not hope to miss until I pass away from this world. I am a Muslim, but this is where I was born and I can say that even Christians who were born from this community should never forget their roots,” the man who identified himself as Ismail Muhammadu Quasim, told our correspondent.
“We all know that our traditional way of worship is not something we can wish away easily, that’s the more reason we have to keep worshiping God. Whether you are a pastor, alfa or a traditionalist, you cannot make enemies with water and that is what the Osun Osogbo festival is basically about,” he added.
Osun devotees exchanging pleasantries during the celebration. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi.
One elderly woman who was very vocal when the Arugba (the young virgin lady who carries Yeye Osun’s authority) thronged the sacred grove, prayed endlessly for her family, her children; home and abroad, as well as NAIJ.com correspondents.
She said: “I thank you, my mother for counting me worthy to see this year’s festival, may my children not suffer, may I not become paralysed.
“Please grant me the grace to witness the coming ones in good health. And to you my children who have come here, may this not be your last festival.”
People besieged the entrance to the Shrine in anticipation of Arugba’s arrival. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi.
Such is the efficacy of the Yeye Osun’s powers that one man was asked to pull off his clothes as he approached one of the priestesses to pray for him so that he would become rich.
Some powdery stuff were poured on his face and he was asked to ‘settle’ the women who were offering the sacrifices on his behalf.
Behold the young Arugba who is always being guarded by ‘powerful’ women and men who understand the language of the goddess. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi.
“What my mother is doing for you is beyond this meagre amount that you are offering,” said one of the priestesses. There were other side attractions inside the sacred grove as the event reached its climax.
A regular attendee, Otunba Gani Adams, leader of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) was also at the river bank to offer some prayers as people kept shouting Oodua while security remained water tight.
Dignitaries also filled the arcade set up for prominent sons and daughters of the kingdom to enjoy the ambience which the scenery provided inside the sacred grove.
Everybody struggled to catch a glimpse of the young Arugba when she made her first appearance. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi
The periodic gunshots which rent the air which evoked sweet memories for some of the attendees, was quite scary for some first timers who were not sure whether to run or stay within striking distance of the gunpowder dane guns.
As at the time of compiling this report, there was a heavy rainfall in Osogbo, the state capital, which NAIJ.com gathered, is a sign that the people’s requests have been granted by the Osun river goddess.
Otunba Gani Adams, leader of the OPC (on white), among other dignitaries at the Sacred Grove. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi.
Everywhere we went, the people kept chanting ‘Ore yeeye o’ meaning the goodness of our goddess, as a way of asking the Osun goddess to pour her blessings on them, a regular recitation made more potent with the arrival of the Arugba
But generally, the celebration did not stop in every community around the state capital as people kept playing different music to thank their deities for the successful completion of another Osun Osogbo Festival.
The people were prepared to say their prayers as they remained resolute despite the security challenges. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi.
The crowd was unprecedented as everyone wanted to get to the river bank for prayers to the Osun goddess. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi.
A sculptural work of the Osun deity beside the river as people kept making requests. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi
Ore yeeye o… the people chanted as they drank from the river and kept praying to witness another Osun/Osogbo festival. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi.
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